Going Dry

JessieJH

So- I did fenugreek, a nursing vacation- you name it, but I think I am going dry. I'm not really sure though. I have gone down to producing 'barely' 5 oz a day, today may be even less.

 At what point did you consider yourself 'dried up'? LO still likes to nurse at home, but I don't think she's getting much. We've had to resort to also giving a formula bottle occasionally and she's been gobbling them up, which makes me think she's been a bit hungry. :-(

JessieJH

Also- at what point is pumping not worth it? I am getting about an ounce each pump session- it seems crazy.

Sept07b2b

Wow!!!  I am in the EXACT same situation, and could have written this post!!  And our LOs are about the same age!!  I can only imagine it has something to do with that!!  I'm starting to get SO frustrated!  I was really hoping having 4 days off with LO would help with my supply, but I think it made it worse, and for the first time, my LO seemed hungry and fussy even though I was nursing her as often as she wanted, so I gave her a small bottle of formula, and she was like a different child, which makes me think she was just really hungry!

I was still pumping about 10 oz per day, and my LO drinks 16 oz while at daycare, so I was able to send 2 bottles of BM one day and 3 bottles of BM the next (supplemented with formula for the other bottles).  Yesterday, I pumped 6 oz total and today I'm at 4.5 oz with one pump left to go (usually my lowest pump). 

I'm totally going through the same thing you are!  At what point is it not worth it anymore!?  I'm getting so frustrated because I want this to work, but my body is just not doing what it's supposed to do.  I feel like it's failing me!  I eat oatmeal every morning, I drink tons of water, I've tried Mother's Milk tea and fenugreek, I've tried adding pumping sessions, but nothing seems to work!!  I keep reading about all these women pumping 4-5 oz at a time, and I'm so jealous!!!   I feel like I've tried so hard to make this work!!  BF was easy at the beginning.  Now is the hard part!!

I quit at 9.5 months with my DS, and when DD was born, I couldn't remember why I had quit and swore I would make it to a year with DD.  Well, now I remember why I quit with DS!! 

No real advice.  I'm just in the same boat and am curious to hear what others have to say. 

JessieJH

Thanks for the reply Sept. :-)

 It's nice to know that we are not alone. Your elaboration of the issue even more matches my situation. I also was hopeful of the 4 day break. And when we started with formula it was amazing how she just drank it right up and then slept longer (making me think she had been hungry the last few days).

One thing I am going to do before I give up is a pump check- I'm headed out to see the lactation folks at the hospital and to have them inspect my pump. Gingers crossed!

sneakersandstilettos19

I came over to this board looking for advice on this very thing.  My DS is just shy of 8 months old and it seems like he is frustrated after nursing and isn't getting enough.  I don't feel engorged NEARLY as much as I have even in the morning after not nursing for 10+ hours.  Nursing was really easy for us up until now, my initial goal was 6 months (arbitrary) but after it came so easy I thought I'd have no problem going to a year.  I've never had to even give him a single bottle of formula, but I'm thinking it might help satisfy him.  I don't even know how much to give or anything! I'm sorry, I'm no help to you either.  I wish I didn't feel so guilty and sad, ya know?!

IDreamInPink

Ditto. Word for word. Hang in there girls!! I'm not giving up hope yet!!

 However I will say that "when the time comes" I hope to make the decision myself, instead of my body making it for me. For some reason, I feel like it would be easier to accept this way.